College freshman Lucia Ramirez has a secret crush on Dane Monroe. He’s a tall drink of water — blond, brash, and one hell of a volleyball player. Hijole. Lucia hopes her volleyball scholarship to his school will make him notice her.
Too bad what’s noticeable is Dane’s obvious hatred for Lucia. Her family’s politics contradict everything he stands for. And politics are front and center in both their families. Dane’s mother is about to face Lucia’s father in the race for US President.
When Secret Service throws them together, Dane can’t deny his frustrating attraction to Lucia’s athletic curves and sweet faith in the world. Amid the intense pressure of college athletics and presidential politics, can opposites not just attract, but overcome overwhelming odds to be together? Or do their differences block their match from the start?
Facts about Blocked:
1) The title Blocked refers to several elements of the plot. Dane and Lucia play college volleyball, in which players try to block the opponents’ spikes. Their political differences are a major block to romance. And then there’s the ever-present cock block hehe.
2) Blocked’s setting is a college city in the Midwest, home to one of the nation’s largest schools: Highbanks University. Though fictional, Highbanks is based on a real university.
3) Highbanks in in a political swing state—voters might swing Democrat or Republican in the upcoming presidential election. Will Dane’s mom or Lucia’s dad be the next US President?
4) Paparazzi are responsible for the first time Dane kisses Lucia.
5) Euchre is the go-to card game in the Midwest. Dane gloats so much when he wins that Lucia labels him “the worst winner ever.” Euchre is a blast because it’s a partner game that’s fast-paced and cunning.
6) Big-time college athletes have quite the support staff: head coach, assistant coach, strength coach, athletic trainer, team doctor, sport psychologist, sport dietitian and academic advisor. Despite this help, Lucia and Dane struggle to manage the intense pressure.
7) Lucia is 6’2” and Dane is 6’8”. Dane’s ego is almost bigger than his height.
8) Since 1995, the gap between pro-choice and pro-life has shrunk so that roughly half of Americans are now in each camp. Abortion is one hot-button issue between Dane and Lucia.
9) Since 1996, the majority of Americans has shifted from opposing gay marriage to supporting gay marriage. As a woman of faith, Lucia faces a surprise that challenges her beliefs.
10) Dane is a setter, the leader of his team. A volleyball setter is like a football quarterback.
1) The title Blocked refers to several elements of the plot. Dane and Lucia play college volleyball, in which players try to block the opponents’ spikes. Their political differences are a major block to romance. And then there’s the ever-present cock block hehe.
2) Blocked’s setting is a college city in the Midwest, home to one of the nation’s largest schools: Highbanks University. Though fictional, Highbanks is based on a real university.
3) Highbanks in in a political swing state—voters might swing Democrat or Republican in the upcoming presidential election. Will Dane’s mom or Lucia’s dad be the next US President?
4) Paparazzi are responsible for the first time Dane kisses Lucia.
5) Euchre is the go-to card game in the Midwest. Dane gloats so much when he wins that Lucia labels him “the worst winner ever.” Euchre is a blast because it’s a partner game that’s fast-paced and cunning.
6) Big-time college athletes have quite the support staff: head coach, assistant coach, strength coach, athletic trainer, team doctor, sport psychologist, sport dietitian and academic advisor. Despite this help, Lucia and Dane struggle to manage the intense pressure.
7) Lucia is 6’2” and Dane is 6’8”. Dane’s ego is almost bigger than his height.
8) Since 1995, the gap between pro-choice and pro-life has shrunk so that roughly half of Americans are now in each camp. Abortion is one hot-button issue between Dane and Lucia.
9) Since 1996, the majority of Americans has shifted from opposing gay marriage to supporting gay marriage. As a woman of faith, Lucia faces a surprise that challenges her beliefs.
10) Dane is a setter, the leader of his team. A volleyball setter is like a football quarterback.
Sweat poured off Dane in a steady stream, but he didn’t even look like he was breathing hard. I started sweating just watching him. His muscular forearm glistened as he clutched his water bottle. I couldn’t believe a man that tall could run so fast. I hoped he wouldn’t be around to witness me sprinting at practice, because my jiggling butt would probably repulse him.
When Maddie came to sit on my left, I pried my gaze away from Dane and strived for nonchalance. “So, uh, why did the coach call him GD?”
“It’s his nickname,” she answered as she tugged kneepads over her shoes. “Great Dane.”
“Oh.” I lifted my arm overhead and stretched my triceps muscle, simply to have something to do. Great was certainly one word for him.
A teammate I didn’t know yet chuckled from the other side of Mad- die. “Or God Damn, as some of us call him. As in goddamn, he’s fine.”
Maddie grinned as she tilted her head toward the end of the bleachers. “Better not let Nina hear you say that.”
“Why not?” I asked. The other teammate shrugged. “Last year — ”
“Ladies!” Coach boomed as he stormed away from the men’s coach. “We’re taking over the gym. We’ve got priority here. Madison, get us started on warm-up.”
Maddie ran to the net, and when my teammates followed her, I jogged over too. I snuck a glance at Dane to find him positively murdering me with those eyes. Oops. He was mad at me again? How was it my fault our practice times got messed up?
A male voice boomed, “Hold it!” and I halted mid-step. I turned to see Dane point at the gym floor in front of me a second before he loped over, clutching his towel. Would he strangle me with it? My eyes darted to Allison at the sideline, but my Secret Service agent didn’t seem to be on alert. I braced myself as he neared, but my fear turned to surprise when he dropped to the floor and wiped it with his towel.
“Close your mouth, Ramirez,” he said as he popped back up and stood inches from me. How does he smell so yummy despite his soaked shirt? It was a manly scent, tinged with some sort of aftershave. “I sweat like a cow.” His angular body towered over me. Not a bovine in sight.
His eyebrows knitted together as I stared up at him. His eyes were so pretty, so deep. “I didn’t want you to fall and break your ankle,” he continued. “At least not because of me.” His insult barely registered over the blood rushing in my ears. When I continued to stand mute in his presence, his head tilted. “I know you can speak...” One corner of his mouth perked up. “You’re not going to call me bitch again, are you?”
When Maddie came to sit on my left, I pried my gaze away from Dane and strived for nonchalance. “So, uh, why did the coach call him GD?”
“It’s his nickname,” she answered as she tugged kneepads over her shoes. “Great Dane.”
“Oh.” I lifted my arm overhead and stretched my triceps muscle, simply to have something to do. Great was certainly one word for him.
A teammate I didn’t know yet chuckled from the other side of Mad- die. “Or God Damn, as some of us call him. As in goddamn, he’s fine.”
Maddie grinned as she tilted her head toward the end of the bleachers. “Better not let Nina hear you say that.”
“Why not?” I asked. The other teammate shrugged. “Last year — ”
“Ladies!” Coach boomed as he stormed away from the men’s coach. “We’re taking over the gym. We’ve got priority here. Madison, get us started on warm-up.”
Maddie ran to the net, and when my teammates followed her, I jogged over too. I snuck a glance at Dane to find him positively murdering me with those eyes. Oops. He was mad at me again? How was it my fault our practice times got messed up?
A male voice boomed, “Hold it!” and I halted mid-step. I turned to see Dane point at the gym floor in front of me a second before he loped over, clutching his towel. Would he strangle me with it? My eyes darted to Allison at the sideline, but my Secret Service agent didn’t seem to be on alert. I braced myself as he neared, but my fear turned to surprise when he dropped to the floor and wiped it with his towel.
“Close your mouth, Ramirez,” he said as he popped back up and stood inches from me. How does he smell so yummy despite his soaked shirt? It was a manly scent, tinged with some sort of aftershave. “I sweat like a cow.” His angular body towered over me. Not a bovine in sight.
His eyebrows knitted together as I stared up at him. His eyes were so pretty, so deep. “I didn’t want you to fall and break your ankle,” he continued. “At least not because of me.” His insult barely registered over the blood rushing in my ears. When I continued to stand mute in his presence, his head tilted. “I know you can speak...” One corner of his mouth perked up. “You’re not going to call me bitch again, are you?”
Get psyched for romance with psychologist/author (psycho author) Jennifer Lane! By day she witnesses growth in her psychotherapy clients, and by night she wrangles misbehaving fictional characters as she writes sports romance and romantic suspense with a psychological twist. She can’t decide which is more fun.
A swimmer and volleyball player in college, Jen wove some of her own experiences into Streamline—a military mystery about swimmers. And readers can dip their toes into Jen’s world of swimming romance by sampling her free New Adult novella Swim Recruit.
College volleyball romance Blocked is Jen’s newest release, launching 10-21-14. Peek inside big-time college sports and even bigger national politics when the offspring of two presidential candidates find out whether opposites really do attract, or their match is blocked from the start.
Stories of redemption interest Jen the most, especially the healing power of love. She is also the author of The Conduct Series, a romantic suspense trilogy that includes With Good Behavior, Bad Behavior, and On Best Behavior. Ultimately, whether writing or reading, Jen loves stories that make her laugh and cry.
In her spare time she enjoys exercising, attending book club, hanging out with her plus-size, “I’m not fat, I’m big-boned” Izzie cat, and visiting her sisters and their families in Chicago and Hilton Head.
A swimmer and volleyball player in college, Jen wove some of her own experiences into Streamline—a military mystery about swimmers. And readers can dip their toes into Jen’s world of swimming romance by sampling her free New Adult novella Swim Recruit.
College volleyball romance Blocked is Jen’s newest release, launching 10-21-14. Peek inside big-time college sports and even bigger national politics when the offspring of two presidential candidates find out whether opposites really do attract, or their match is blocked from the start.
Stories of redemption interest Jen the most, especially the healing power of love. She is also the author of The Conduct Series, a romantic suspense trilogy that includes With Good Behavior, Bad Behavior, and On Best Behavior. Ultimately, whether writing or reading, Jen loves stories that make her laugh and cry.
In her spare time she enjoys exercising, attending book club, hanging out with her plus-size, “I’m not fat, I’m big-boned” Izzie cat, and visiting her sisters and their families in Chicago and Hilton Head.
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Lauren, thank you for spreading the word about Blocked! :-)
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